Grain of Pain – The Moon Lights The Way
Release Date: 31st May 2024
Label: Noble Demon
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom Metal, Death Doom, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Doom.
FFO: Swallow The Sun, Dawn of Solace, Hanging Garden, Amorphis, Paradise Lost.
Review By: Rick Farley
Nearly everyone in the metal world already knows that if something is labelled Finnish death/doom, chances are it’s pretty great. Then throw in the fact that this “supergroup” of doom metal heavy hitters is all coming together on one album orchestrated by prolific mastermind Timo Solonen (composer, guitars, growls) of Infirmum fame, and you have got yourself one really excited reviewer.
Grain of Pain which also consists of Juho Räihä on guitars (Swallow the Sun, Before the Dawn), Lars Eikind on bass and clean vocals (ex-Dawn of Solace and Before the Dawn), Juuso Raatikainen on drums (Swallow the Sun) with captivating female vocals from Sini Pajunen and additional backing growls from Taka Eliel is set to release their debut album The Moon Lights the Way May 31st, 2024, via Noble Demon.
The Moon Lights the Way is a bewitching force of powerful melodies set amongst the backdrop of crunchy riffs and sorrowed atmosphere. Deathly gutturals and emotionally intense, clean vocals intertwine within these unique songs to forge a divergent but fresh interpretation of doom metal. All the key elements are present, heavy guitars that drift into dark, entrancing melodies. Colossal walls of sound crashing down with melancholic atmosphere that somehow still exudes hopeful beauty within seamlessly woven threads of despair. Hints of gothic tinged influence creeps in occasionally, while also musically touching on progressive flourishes that never veer too far off but are present enough to give this a real individuality. There is an irresistible nature to The Moon Lights the Way that encourages you to listen over and over again, helping to identify what makes this release just a little different than most modern death/doom albums. Big hooks and rich melodies are scattered throughout, bringing a warmth and memorability to the overwhelming darkness. Crisp guitar tones are sharp while deep bass brings weight to the mix. The juxtaposition between the vocals is gnarly, Lars’s stunning clean voice is rich and full toned while the bellowing growls from Timo are grim and demonic sounding. The musical diversity from within the tracks while still being completely cohesive is astounding. Mourning, beauty, darkness, anguish, brutality, it’s all here.
The best example of this is the mood drenched first single and title track, The Moon Lights the Way. One part death metal and one part goth tinged progressive doom. This incredibly infectious track is up-tempo, morose, engrossing and utterly brutal all within its individual structure. It starts with sullen clean vocals over slightly distorted string patterns, the almost spiritual chanting backing vocals add depth to the track before it violently shifts to raspy screams, chugging guitars, and deep growls. Heartache, and desperation transitioning to anger and pain is the easiest way to explain how this track sounds. It is especially effective in the strong emotions shown while being completely unexpected in what you think you’re initially going to get from this band. It drew me in from the first listen and never let go.
The album was recorded, mixed, and produced by Juho Räihä at Soundspiral Audio with additional recording by Timo Solonen and mastering done by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers. There is a frenetic rawness in the straightforward production that gives this album an organic feel, while still unveiling additional layers with repeated listens.
The Moon Lights the Way is a fantastic piece of death doom that does not rely solely on the tropes of the genre. This is a fresh take on doom that surely will turn a few heads while still stealing their souls. It is not so far off that it feels awkward, but it definitely reaches outwards in embrace before snatching you up and crushing your bones. Grain of Pain demonstrates that even in something that has been done many times before that you can still expand your horizons into creating something so musically familiar, but with a slightly different voice. 
(5 / 5)
